Humans are predisposed to act in self-interest. As exists in human nature, individuals innately seek outcomes and situations that benefit them. This inherent, omnipotent greed for success and power stains the fabric of human history. Macbeth prominently displays this behavior and serves as a prime example of hubris. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth warns readers about the repercussions of megalomania and the obsession over masculinity through Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and Macbeth’s overambition. Lady Macbeth’s obsession with power leads her to manipulate her husband to gain the throne, eventually causing her untimely death. Once Lady Macbeth receives Macbeth’s letter, she says in her soliloquy, “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, …show more content…
Lady Macbeth desires to achieve more masculinity to accomplish the task of regicide. This rejection of humanity and acceptance of cruelty empowers Lady Macbeth to go through with the deed and succeed where Macbeth fails, as he lacks cruelty and a strong masculine outlook. Her inhumanity stems from her lust for power and drives her masculine urges. Later, Lady Macbeth’s obtained power proves to overtake her, as after hearing Macbeth’s evil deeds, she hallucinates in her sleep. While trying to purge an imaginary bloody spot from her hand, she shouts “Out, damned spot, out, I say! One. Two. Why then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard” (5.1.37-39). This incomplete conversion from female to male failed to reach its desired effect, and it overtook her. Because Lady Macbeth still had a semblance of a heart and humanity, she became overridden with guilt. The permanent bloody spot symbolizes her guilt and participation in Duncan’s murder, which happened because Lady Macbeth acted as a catalyst, directly placing her at fault. In the form of a nightmare, …show more content…
Before committing to the conspiracy, Macbeth deliberates the implications of his decision: “I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares do more is none” (1.7.51-52). As Macbeth debates, he states that all people make mistakes, and all the occurrences so far fit his nature. However, he realizes that going further to usurp the throne would defy nature and dehumanize him. This act fills him with the cruelty and heartlessness that Lady Macbeth seeks, leading to his death. Once Macbeth acquires the throne, he completes the three prophecies. However, this promise of power corrupts him and pushes him to act further, despite already having the throne. When discussing the implications of Banquo’s prophecies, Macbeth proclaims, “To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep” (3.1.52-54). Banquo’s deep friendship means nothing to Macbeth, as he decides to kill him as quickly as the snap of a finger. Macbeth’s decision to assassinate Banquo causes permanent damage and haunts him throughout the remainder of the play. No issues exist between Macbeth and Banquo, but the moment the witches plant a seed of desire in Macbeth’s head, he becomes paranoid and merciless. This incident began Macbeth’s downfall because it led others to suspect him of foul play and distrust him, eventually leading to a revolution. This decline of
Lady Macbeth presents herself as a strong, driven, and ambitious woman who is ready to do what it takes to gain power and influence. This is shown when she instructs Macbeth to “Leave all the rest to me.” (1.5.71) as she takes the leadership of a gruesome action from her husband. Lady Macbeth even feels these masculine-presenting traits enough to question the masculinity of others, which is seen when she tells Macbeth that he was acting like a child by saying “the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures; ‘tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil.” (2.2.53-55) after he expressed his guilt.
Macbeth decides he needs to take action to keep his crown, “Given to the common enemy of man/ to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings/ Rather than so, come Fate into the list” (3. 1. 70-72). After seeing that all of his prophecies come true Macbeth thinks about Banquo and fears losing his crown. Macbeth hires murderers to go and kill Banquo and Fleance so that he remains king.
In the story, Macbeth becomes nervous that Banquo will over power him. “But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be feared. ' Tis much he dares, And to that dauntless temper of his mind To act in safety. There is none but he Whose being I do fear.”
After Macbeth found out about his prophecy from the witches, he decided to take matters into his own hands, altering what was set out for him, leading to many disastrous outcomes and deaths. When Macbeth heard Banquo’s prophecy, he was infuriated. Filled with jealousy and greed, he was envious that Banquo’s sons would become king, yet “upon [his] head [the witches] placed a fruitless crown.” (Shakespeare. 3.1.66-67).
The primary downfall of Lady Macbeth was from the guilt that was depicted in her disturbed sleep through her sleep-walking episodes where she would try to remove the spot off of her hands, which represents the death of Duncan. This shows that sleep directly affected her mind and disturbed the peace that once existed there prior to the start of the
It also causes conflict between Macbeth and Banquo for the reason that Banquo's bloodline may pose a threat to Macbeth's throne. The second moment comes about when Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to murder Duncan, who is the king of Scotland at the time of this point in the play. This moment inevitably starts Macbeth's rampage for security.
Lady Macbeth repeatedly uses Macbeth's insecurities regarding his manhood to influence him to kill King Duncan. She states “Unsex me here” (Shakespeare, 1.4), and subsequently, how she wishes to swap her milk for “gal”, so she can be a man so and kill King Duncan herself. This statement emanates the idea that murder is a man’s job, meaning that if Macbeth does not go through with the murder he has surrendered his manhood. Macbeth exercises the societal standard of masculinity as a reoccurring theme which expedites Macbeth to kill the king. Ultimately, Lady Macbeth takes advantage of this theme of Macbeth’s need to prove his manhood, and influences his characters plot.
Some consider Lady Macbeth to be the catalyst of the tragic events in the play, advocating that Macbeth would have never gone through with the murder if it weren’t for her persistent persuasion. This evil manipulation is present in the quote “When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man” (Act 1, Scene 7). Lady Macbeth insults her husband’s masculinity with the intent of inciting the violence necessary to fulfill her vicious ambitions. In addition to her manipulations, Lady Macbeth makes her desires clear when she calls out for evil spirits to ‘unsex me here’, which ultimately makes her capable both mentally and physically, to commit the fierce murder that soon follows. This is observed in the quote “Come you spirits/
Lady Macbeth is immensely affected by fear and anxiety throughout the play. Lady Macbeth initially appears to be the driving force behind Macbeth's actions. Lady Macbeth's ambitiousness and determination are shown in her speech in act 1 scene 5 "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty." Lady Macbeth's fear of being powerless is so great that she is willing to sacrifice her femininity to become more masculine and ruthless. However, as the play progresses, Lady Macbeth's projection of fear and anxiety becomes more pronounced.
Macbeth’s impatience for power leads to drastic actions. He murders the king in the belief that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all” (1.7.5). This assassination could never “trammel up the consequence” (1.7.2-3), as Macbeth believes, but only leads to more trouble. Although Macbeth seizes the throne, Macbeth had to betray his loyalty to the king whose “virtues will plead like angels” (1.7.18-19), and his morality has paid the price. Macbeth has now lost all sense of what honor is by using such dishonest ways to become king.
Lady Macbeth is calling to the spirits to assist her murderous ideations and to do that make her less of a women and more like man which will then fill her with deadly cruelty. This supports how she feels, about needing to be manly to commit these horrible
William Shakespeare portrayed the character Lady Macbeth to be extremely ruthless, malicious and manipulative. Thus, being the reason she could easily convince Macbeth to do her will, yet still put on such a convincing performance in front of those who knew nothing of her and her husband’s actions. Lady Macbeth shows her complexity constantly throughout the story when she shares her view-point on masculinity by demasculinizing her own husband, when she strategically plans the murder of the King Duncan, and finally when she finally goes crazy because of the guilt she possesses for not only her own actions but also turning her own husband into a
After achieving the title of the King of Scotland, Macbeth wants to secure his position as the king and desires to inherit the Scottish throne to his ancestors. His aim was showed in “To be thus is nothing, /But to be safely thus” (III, i, 52-3). This quote reveals that Macbeth not only wanted to become the king but also wants to secure his position as the King of Scotland for the welfare of his upcoming generation. This reveals Macbeth’s is implying the witches’ prophecies; as long Banquo’s sons live, Macbeth’s throne would not be able to inherit down to his ancestors. As the play progresses, Macbeth’s hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, as represented through, “Banquo, thy soul’s flight, /If
Due to the killings, her guilt began to change her as a person. With the appearance of blood, Lady Macbeth realizes what horror she has created. Blood haunts Lady Macbeth in the worst possible way. Lady Macbeth can not wash the blood from her hands, staining permanent guilt. “Out, damned spot!...
Banquo is one of the only other characters who knows of Macbeth’s prophecy to become king. Banquo is with Macbeth during his first encounter with the witches, where he is told, “that shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare 1.3.53). This scene is one of the most pivotal in what leads to Macbeth’s choices later in the book. Macbeth knows Banquo heard his prophecy which led to Macbeth realizing that he could be a threat to his throne and having him murdered.